Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

Deputy Stanton has noted that in yesterday's debate the Minister, Deputy Harney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, just made general statements. He said that while the Minister spoke about billions in expenditure, there were no specific deadlines or actions. Deputy Stanton was right. The Minister did not engage in debate on the Labour Party motion, choosing instead to make a general statement. She basically read out a script that was provided to her beforehand. The motion referred to a specific aspect of the health service and a group of people with acquired brain injury. The Minister should have responded to the problems and gaps in the health service that we have identified in the motion. Given her experience both as a Deputy and a Minister, she could have spoken about cases of which she is aware or should be aware, in addition to how such problems are being faced by those with acquired brain injury and their families. The Minister should have outlined what actions she will personally see are taken to improve the quality of life for all those affected, but she did not do that.

In paying tribute to the Taoiseach earlier today, the Minister for Health and Children said the Government was not perfect. In her contribution last night, she would have given much more hope if she had acknowledged that fact concerning services for people with acquired brain injury. She should have outlined the failings and gaps, as well as what commitment she could give to deal with them. Instead she made generalised comments — the way the Government does nowadays — about projects way in the future. She gave a vague commitment to a satellite centre for Beaumont Hospital but it was just a proposal with no specific date. She also spoke vaguely about plans for rehabilitation beds but there was no specific commitment on numbers or locations.

Deputy Stanton said the Minister is not currently engaged with the health debate. She could start with the experiences of people in her own constituency. Like Deputy Upton, I have received a few calls about Cherry Orchard Hospital where respite care beds were recently closed. The 70-year-old husband of a constituent who rang me suffered a severe stroke a few years ago. She is now ill herself and finds it difficult to care for her husband at home. She took advantage of the respite care facilities in Cherry Orchard Hospital, which was a godsend for her. However, she was recently told by the hospital that the service is at an end. I have come across similar cases, including the family members of a frail 91-year-old man who were caring for him at home. They used to carry him upstairs to bed every night. Every couple of weeks he went to Cherry Orchard Hospital for a few days' respite care. That was the family's lifesaver but it has now been taken away. When I and Deputy Mary Upton raised the issue in the Dáil I got a generalised two-page reply about millions being spent here and there for older people. There was nothing in the reply that responded to the specific issue I had raised concerning the closure of respite care beds at Cherry Orchard Hospital. There was one sentence which stated that the matter would be kept under review.

Despite the gloss of the Government amendment, the Minister's speech and speeches by various Government backbenchers, there are cutbacks in the health service. As a result people are losing services they relied upon up to now. Those being hit are the most vulnerable. They are easy targets. If the Minister took responsibility and engaged with the health service, she could start with Cherry Orchard Hospital. She could intervene and halt the closure of those respite care beds, which affects the most vulnerable people. She is not doing that, however, and takes no responsibly, claiming that it is nothing to do with her. That kind of generalised response to the problem is not only happening in the Department of Health and Children; it is also happening in many other Government Departments. Ministers are always talking generally about the expenditure of millions and billions, national development plans, strategies and reviews, but these solutions are far in the future — it is basically deferred Government.

Last night the Minister spoke about a rehabilitation centre for which the target opening date is 2012, but her tenure as Minister will then be at an end. We will probably be told that they do not have the money anyway, so it will be left as a problem for the next Government. Ministers often look hurt when they are told they are remote, not engaged in the process and out of touch, but that is the reality. The Minister is disengaged and is not taking responsibility for her Department. Apart from incompetence and remoteness, what is really wrong with the health service is the ideology involved. The reason we have a poor public health service is that the Minister is not committed to providing a good one.

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